Transfer tray



C. F. WRIGHT Dec. 6, 1932.

TRANSFER TRAY FILLING MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 6, 1932. Q c. F. wRlsHi' 1,889,847

TRANSFERTRAY FILLING MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Dec. 6, 1932. c. F. WRIGHT 1,889,847

TRANSFER TRAY FILLING MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed Aug. 25. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V l ;l'

Patented Dec 6, 1932 UNITED stares N ?meme CHARLES F. WRIGHT, or AKRON, onto, AssrGuoa .TO THE DIAMOND arci-I."

COMPANY, or BALTlMCR-E, IvIAREZLAND, A ooaroaaaron or MARYLAND TRANSFER-TRAY rrnmue rincimnrsir roe MATCH MACHINES Application filed August 25, 1931. Serial No. 559,202. I

This invention relates to machines for making matches,'having reference especially to that class of machines wherein is employed an endless match carrier from which the matches are discharged in succeeding rows. The principal object of my invention is to provide simple and eflicient means whereby transfer trays can be associated with the match carrier and advanced successively. to

matches or splints in suchmanner that each tray is effectually filled with superposed rows of matches or splints.

W'thth' d a b a v' a1 1 IS an 0 lel 0 360 m y 7 1y driventhroughsuitable bevel gearing I17 invention comprises features of novelty and combinations of parts which, in a preferred form, will be hereinafter described. the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims. V Y

In the drawingsv Figure 1 is an elevation of the discharge end of a match machine equipped with trans fer-tray filling mechanism embodying a form of my invention. r Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the machine, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section. as on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing themechanism for actuating the tray-feeding chains.

Fig. 4 is a detail of ratchet and pawl devices included in the chain actuating mechanism. i

Fig. 5 is a detail of an eccentric for opcrating the ratchet and pawl devices.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section. enlarged, of one of the chain guides, a portion ofthe feed chain therein, a portion of the transfer tray engaged by the chain, and adjuncts.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, as on the line 77 of Fig. 6. f

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the match carrier and a transfer tray associated 5 therewith, showing a portion of one of the tray-feeding chains. Y,

Fig. 9 is a partial plan of a slotted bottom slide for a transfer tray.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a portion of the main frame of a match maand across the path of dischargeofthe' .trationthe rows of'splints arecontained in a suitably-disposed hopper 20from which they which the matches are delivered in close lying 4.:

chine; The plate 27 is formed with spaced appear.

chine; 11 designates the main. shaft, and 12 designates a portion of an endless carrier into which the ends ofsuccessive parallel rows of out projecting splints S are insertedat. one location and transported thence through I the match making path to another location:

where the rows of'finished matches are successively discharged. .T, a The form of match carrier-herein shown comprises an endless chain of hingedlyicom: nected perforated plates having marginal gear racks 13 in mesh with a'ctuating gears 14 included in a suitable geartrainl5fi- The shaft 16 of one of the gears 14 is appropriatefrom pin'.Wheels;-18 which are intermittently In the ty pe o f'machine selectedfor'illusare transferred row by row to thecarrier 12 r by a horizontally reciprocatingsettinghead 21 mounted beneath the. hopperfand the matches are .ejected row by row fronrthe carrier ,by the punches 22 of a'horizontally reciprocatin punch head 23, under the control of a cam on the main shaft.

24 designates amatch t'ransfer-trayinto rows by the reciprocating punch-head of the match machine. Each traypreferably consists of a light rectangular structureof sheet metal having two narrow sides 25', a back 26 and a slidable bottom plate-27, which plate may be readily withdrawn to permit the assembled matchesto drop from the tray into a suitable receptacle after thetray has been filled by and removed from the match ma transverse slots 28 which extend inwardly a suitable distance from the open side of the tray,.the purpose of-wh'ich slots will presently V A tray. is-supported vertical position ad jacent the carrier at the discharge end of the match a machine, and is moved downwardly in timed relation to thetravel of the carrier in a manner-t0 position the tray for the proper reception ofthe matches discharged from the 1 carrier by the punch head, the tray when filled being removed and immediately succeeded by an empty tray, and so on.

The preferred form of mechanism herein illustrated for supporting and feeding the transfer-tray is p as follows 29 designates two endless chains arranged adjacent to and parallel with the respective sides of the vertical run of the match carrier at the discharge end of the match machine.

These chains pass about upper and lower sprocket wheels 30, 31, respectively. The upper sprocket wheels 39 are fast on shafts 32 having their hearings in suitably-disposed brackets 33 ontheframe structure 34 of the match machineyand the lower sprocket wheels 31-are loose on shafts '35 fixed in brackets 36 on the frame structure. The shafts 32 have fast thereon bevel gears 37 in mesh with similar gears 38 on a transverse shaft39 having itsbearings in extensions 40 of the brackets 33: Thisshaft 39 has loose thereon at one end a pawl-disk 41 which is operatively connected by means of'a rod'42 with an eccentric 43 fast on the main shaft 11 ofthe' machine; The pawl 44 on the disk 41 engages a ratchet 45 fast on the shaft 39, and hence duringeach rotation of the main shaft 11 the shaft 39- 'is advanced one tooth of the ratchet; The

ratio of the bevel gearingis such that in each step of the shaft 39 thechains 29 are advanced a distance much less than that between two adjacent rows of matches on the carrier.

For example, in the machine selected for illustratlon the carrier ln'each step moves a distance of one-half inch while the chains 29 i move a distance of .045 of an inch.

The inner vertical runs of the chains 29 travel downward, and as they approach and pass the discharge of the match machine they r are guided by and between vertical guides 46 which arefixed adjacent the respective sides of the match carrier. Each of these guides in the present instance comprises a longitudinally channeled bar which is secured to a block 47 on a cross-bar 48 supported'by the main frame. e

Loosely fitted in the lower portion of the guideway and in parallelism with the adjacent run of the chain is a horizontally movable sprmg-pressed bar 49 which bears against the opposing inner portion of the of the adjacent guide 46, the outer ends of the pins being threaded to receive nuts 51.

Encircling the pins, between the bars 46, 49

are springs 52 which urge the bar'49 against the opposing chain. By properly adjusting the nuts 51 on'the outer ends of the pins 50 V 'ber 27 of thetray inserted between two ad the spring pressure on the bars 49 can be nice- 1y regulated. v

The guide bars 46 support a vertical wall plate 53 in close relation to the path of the match carrier in the space between the punch head and the lower ends of the pressure bars 49, which plat-e thus serves as a backer mem her to maintain the contained matches in the tray as the tray passes and progresses below the punch head. The upper edge of this plate is preferably notched or serrated, as at- 54, to afford guide spaces for the tails of the matches as they are ejected by the punch head and deliveredto the tray, and such upper edge is also provided with a series of spaced parallel blades 55 which extend outwardly into the path of the trays and afford partitions effective to prevent undue lateral displacement of'thematches deposited in the tray. These blades are spaced correspondingly with the slots 28 in the bottom plate 27 of the tray, thus permitting the free downward travel of the tray withits open front in 'closerelation t0 the outerface of the match carrier. x The dimensions ofthe match tray are such that it can be arranged betweenthe inner runs of the chains 29 above the plane'of the discharge punches, with the bottom memj acent rows of projecting matches in the carrier. Hence the tray is supported by a row of matches held in the carrier, and is uni- I formly advanced toward the punch head at the same speed as the match carrier travelsf" When the supporting row of matches for the tray reaches the plane of the'punches such row is ejected from thematch carrier, thus releasing the tray from the feeding movement of the carrier. At this juncture the"" lower portion of the tray enters the grasp of the inwardly-pressed portions of'the intermittently-moving side chains 29, and the latter thereupon carry the tray downward correspondingly with the discharge of succeeding rows of matches from' the carrier by the punch head, but with steps shorter thanthose of the carrier. The ejected rows of matches are thus progressively deposited in close-lye ing relation within the tray until the tray" llO has been filled, whereupon owing to the yielding gripping action of the side chains the tray can be readily grasped and slid out by the attendant. v

By varying the resilient force of the springs 52 on the bars 49 and chains 29, the

pressure of the chains on the interposed trav can be nicely adjusted to support the weight of the tray and its contained matches. By virtueof the relatively short downward i movements of the tray while it is being filled,

the succeeding rows of matches'are inserted in the tray in close relation and without drop and in consequencethe heads of the contalned matches bear on each other with suflicient force at the back ofthe tray to maintain'the splints in substantially uniform position, as indicated in Fig. 8, thus prevent ing the naming and irregular arrangem'en of the tails of the splints.

lVhile a tray isbein'g filled the attendant can readily apply a succeeding empty tray to the match carrier, with the bottom of the tray supported between adjacent rows of matches, which latter tray, owing to thedifferent step movements of the match carrier and the chains 29, should be located a sufficient distance above the punch head, as indi cated at A in Figs. 1 and 2, to insure the proper relation of the bottom of the empty tray to the discharge punches when the preceding tray has been filled or nearly so. In this way a practically continuous delivery of trays at the discharge end of the match machine can be maintained during the operation of the machine.

My invention is not limited to the details of construction herein shown as the mechanism may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims; it being noted that the term matches as used in the claims is inclusive of splints.

I claim 1. In a match machine having a travelling carrier from which rows ofmatches project,

and means for discharging such rows successively from the carrier, a match transfen tray open at the top and having a bottom member insertable between two adjacent rows of projecting matches above the path of the match discharging means, by which rows the tray can be supported in close parallel relation to the outer face of the carrier and moved correspondingly.with the carrier to the discharge means, and means for engaging said tray and feeding it progressively downward when the row of tray supporting splints has been discharged from the carrier.

2. In a mat-ch machine having a travelling carrier from which rows of matches project, and means for discharging such rows successively from the carrier. match transfertray open at the top and having a bottom member insertable between two adjacent rows of projecting matches above the path of the match discharging means, bywhich rows the tray can be supported in close parallel relation to the outer face of the carrier and and means for. discharging such rows suc-' cessively from the carrier, a match transfertray open at the top and having a member 1 carrier from which rows of matches project,

and means for discharging such rows suc cessively from the carrier, a match transfer- 0 tray open at the top and having a member insertable between two adjacent rows of projectin matches above the path of the match discharging means, by which rows the tray can be supported in close parallel relation to the '85 outer face of the carrier and moved correspondingly with the carrier to the discharge means, chain guides arranged adjacent the respective sides of the carrier, parallel chains in said guides, means for actuating said chains in timed relation to the carrier, and means yieldably pressing such portions against the respective sides of the tray when the row of tray supporting splints has been discharged from the carrier. 7 T

5. In a match machine having a travelling carrier froniwhich spaced rows of matches project, and means for discharging such rows successively from the carrier, match," transfer-tray open at the top and having at bottom member insertable between two adjacent rows of projecting'matches above the path of the match'discharge means, by which rowsthe tray can be supported in close par allel relation to the outer face of the carrier" and moved correspondingly with the carrier to the discharge means, chain guides ar ranged adjacent the respectivesides of the carrier, parallel chains in said guides, means, for actuating said chains in timed relation'to the carrier, pressure members arranged in said guides, and adjustable spring means urging said members against the opposin portions of the respective chains, whereby said.,. chains are operative to grip and progressive- 1y move the tray when the row of tray supporting splints has been discharged from the carrier. I

6. In a match machine having a travelling carrier from which spaced rows of matches J12! project, and means for discharging such rows successively from the carrier, a wall plate arranged in front of the carrier and extending downward from the plane of the discharge i I "l means, a matchtransfer-tray open at the top face of the carrier and moved correspondingly with the carrier to the discharge means,

and means for engaging said tray and feeding it progressively downward when the row of tray supporting splints has been discharged from the carrier.

7. In a match machine having a travelling carrier from which spacedv rows of matches project, and means for discharging such rows successively from the carrier, at wall-plate arranged in front of the carrier and extending downward from the plane of the dis charge means, the upper edge of said plate be-' ing serrated to afford supports for the tails of a row of discharged matches, a match transfer-tray open at the top and having a Y bottom member insertable between two admoved correspondingly with the carrier to the discharge means, and means for engaging said tray and feeding it progressively down- .ward when the row of tray supporting splints has been discharged from the carrier.

8. In a match machine having a travelling carrier from which spaced rows of matches project, and means for discharging such rows successively from the carrier, a wall plate arranged in front of the carrier and extending downward from the plane of the discharge means, the upper edge of said plate being serrated to provide supports for the tails of a row of matches and having a series of spacedapart outwardly-extending partition blades, a match transfer-tray open at the top and having a bottom member provided with spaced slots corresponding with the blades, said member being insertable between two adjacent rows of projecting matches above the path of the discharge means, by which rows the tray can be supported in close parallel relation to the outer face of the carrier and moved correspondingly with the carrier to the discharge means, and means for engaging said tray and feeding it progressively downward when the row of tray supporting splints has been discharged from the carrier.-

9. A rectangular transfer tray for use in connection with a match machine having a match carrier, means for discharging succeeding rows of matches from the carrier and into the tray, and spaced partition strips extending outwardly at the discharge means, said tray comprising two narrow sides, a back and a slidable bottom plate having spaced transverse slots corresponding with the partition strips.

' successively from the carrier, a match transfer tray supported in close parallel relation to the outer face of the carrier and movable ust A. D. 1931.

CHARLES F. WRIGHT. 

